50 NATURE TEACHING 



In all the methods the essential point is that the cambium 

 of the scion shall be brought into contact with the cam- 

 bium of the stock ; any mode of cutting or shaping the 

 cut surfaces of the stock and scion which enables this 

 contact of the cambiums to be secured may be adopted 

 as a method of grafting, and the methods are often 

 named according to the manner in which the scion and 

 stock are cut or shaped. The branch or stem which is to 

 serve as the stock is cut off at the place where it is 

 desired to insert the scion, and shaped according to the 

 method to be adopted. In the simplest case the stock 

 is cut across obliquely, and a scion of the same thickness 

 is cut in a similarly oblique manner, so that the two cut 

 surfaces will fit together. Stock and scion being thus 

 prepared, fit them together, so that their cambiums are 

 in close contact, and fasten them securely in position by 

 means of suitable binding material. There is a tendency 

 for scions thus shaped to slip out of position ; notches 

 or tongues are therefore often cut in both stock and scion 

 to diminish this danger of slipping, but care must be 

 taken to cut the two surfaces in such a manner that they 

 may fit together accurately. 



In some cases it is desired to fix a small scion on a 

 large stock. The stock is then cut off at the place where 

 the scion is to be inserted, the end of the scion trimmed 

 to a thin, pointed, wedge-like form, and thrust in between 

 the wood and the bark of the stock into the cambium in 

 fact. In another method a long narrow V" sna P e< ^ incision 

 is made in the bark and down into the wood of the stock, 

 the base of the scion is cut to a corresponding shape, fitted 

 to the stock and secured in position by binding, 



